Weighted exercising shoe



SePt- 26, 1967 F. H. J'MES, JR 3,343,836

WEIGHTED EXERCISING SHOE Filed Nov. 18, 1964 1 l f@ ill @i &

I l l /V huil /j A INVENTOR,

FORREST H. JAMES JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,343,835 WEIGHTED EXERCHSING SHOE Forrest H. James, Jr., Opelika, Ala., assignor to Diversified Products Corporation, Opelika, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 411,984 11 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to exercising shoes and is particularly concerned with the provision of weighting devices to be applied to the pedal extremities for increasing the muscular exertion required in their movement. While the term shoe has been adapted by athletic instructors and physical therapists, it will be understood that the specialized use of this term does not embrace conventional devices for covering the feet as is usually thought of with respect to a shoe. On the contrary, the exercising shoes here referred to are concerned merely with means for attaching weights to the pedal extremity for physical training and therapeutic purposes.

Weighting devices for pedal extremities have long been known as useful in developing new strength and agility of the muscles of the legs, ankles and feet as Well as for corrective exercises for therapeutic purposes. Heretofore such weighting devices were provided in the form of solid metal blocks frequently having an upper surface contoured to conform with the general lower surface of the foot and provided with straps for securing the block elements to the soles of feet. In some instances the weighting members were provided with detachable elements to provided for the increase of the weight applied to the foot and thus to provide for the progressive increase of resistance to muscular activity whereby muscles could be gradually built up to strength well above normal. Such Weighted shoes being conventionally formed of solid metal castings are costly as to material, expensive in manufacture, and are easily tarnished or corroded by exposure to ambient atmospheres. Their surfaces are rough, hard and irritating upon contact with the exposed soles of the feet. Such devices are also noisy in use and dangerous to other objects and are readily chipped or broken.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel, improved and economic exercising shoe of the type herein referred to.

Y It is another object of the invention to provide a new plastic coated weighted exercise device for the pedal extremities.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising shoe of the type set forth in which the weight applied to the pedal extremities may be readily varied.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved inexpensive exercising shoe including a form sustaining and retaining exterior shell and an internal filler of inexpensive aggregate material.

Further objects of the invention include that of providing an exercising shoe of the character set forth in which the weight is obtained by the use of an internal plastic material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising shoe of the character set forth with an exterior wear-resistant yieldable casing which will not irritate the skin of the person to whom the shoe is applied, which is resistant to deterioration by contact with perspiration of the user and is free of rough edges and the danger of damage through sudden contact with other objects.

f Numerous other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

l solid metal exercise shoes, it will of course be recog.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the present invention showing the invention applied to the pedal extremity of the user;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1 with securing straps and the foot of the user removed;

FIG. 3 is a front end elevation of the health shoe shown in FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear central vertical section through the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 4 showing additional weights in place which are not shown in FIG. 4.

In considering the details of configuration of that form of the invention herein shown by way of example, it is to be understood that the basic generic concept of the present health shoe is not limited or confined to the structural details of the outlined design or configuration here presented. Thus, the primary concern of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, adequately Weighted non-metallic exercising shoe.

This primary concept of the present invention may be generally stated as being carried out by the use of an exterior form defining a hollow plastic shell filled with hardened concrete, preferably including Weighting material in the nature of iron scale. In construction the preferred method is outlined in detail in my companion applications, Ser. No. 395,693, filed Sept. 11, 1964, for Dumbbell and Means for Filling the Same, and Ser. No. 308,975, filed Sept. 16, 1963, for Dispenser, now Patent No. 3,270,390. In these cases, apparatus and method are disclosed by which weighting material such as cement in plastic form is poured into a plastic shell in accompaniment with vigorous vibration of the shell by which the plastic material is `caused to fully fill the interior of the shell without permitting voids. 'Ihe plastic shell is sealed after filling by a suitable closure member having anchoring means engageable in the plastic cementitious material prior to a complete setting thereof so as to secure the closure in a permanent position.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the present external configuration of the hollow shoe shells 9, here shown by way of example, includes a heel portion 10 from which extends an inclined bottom instep surface 11 which receives an instep strap 12. The heel portion 10 further includes an upwardly projecting curved rear heel abutment bead 14. Forwardly of the inclined strap receiving bottom instep surface 11, there extends a substantially horizontal sole surface 15 broken near the forward end by an upwardly indented recess 16 adapted to receive the toe strap 17. The upper surface 19 of the shoe 9 includes a generally horizontal heel platform 18 immediately adjacent and extending forwardly of the heel abutment bead 14. Forwardlyof the heel platform 18, the upper surface 19 of the shoe 9 inclines downwardly to support the instep of the foot and forwardly in a plane substantially flat and in spaced parallel relation to the heel platform 18.

As noted best in FIG. 2, the general side outline of the shoe defined by side walls 20 extends inwardly from the broad heel portion 10 within the outline of the abutment bead 14 to form recesses 21 bridged by strap retainers 22 for the instep strap 12. The forward ends of the retainers 22 engage laterally projecting bosses 24 from which project the ends 25 of a transverse weight bar tube 26. Forwardly of the bosses 24, the walls 20 taper to provide parallel straight portions 28 terminating in a curved toe 29. Retainers 30 project from the portions 2 8 above the recess 16 to receive the toe strap 17.

While the exterior configuration shown and described is in general conformity with the design of conventional 3 nized that the invention is not limited or confined to the shoe outline depicted and that various shapes and forms are contemplated.

The shell of a configuration as referred to above may be economically blow molded from a synthetic material such as polyethylene to form a thin, substantially rigid but yieldable hollow body including the internal transverse Weight bar tube 26. At a vertical wall face 31 of the heel portion 10, a receiving aperture 32 is provided through which cementitious material in plastic form may be inserted to fill the casing. Vigorous agitation of the form is desirable during filling operations so as to assure complete filling of the internal cavity of the mold by the -cementitious material precluding the formation of voids as the cementitious material hardens. Though the invention is not limited or confined to the use of any particular selfhardening plastic material for filling the shell, the invention particularly embraces the use of cement 33 loaded for weight by the use of appropriate proportions of iron scale 50. After completely filling the mold form identified by the letter S with cementitious material While plastic, and before the plastic material is fully hardened, a closure plug 34 is inserted through the aperture 32. As indicated in FIG. 4, the inner end of the plug 34 is provided with a projecting shank 35 and an anchoring cross bar 36. Thus, upon insertion of the plug before the cementitious material 33 hardens, the anchor will be retained as the material hardens to form a permanent seal for the shell. The outer face of the plug is in conformity with the outer vertical face 31 ofthe heel portion 10 to provide a smooth final external contour.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, the tube 26, extending through the sh-Oe 9 in transverse direction forward of the heel platform 18 and at the instep `strap recesses 21, is adapted to receive a removable transverse bar 40 upon the ends of which may be removably and selectively positioned weight discs 41, the arrangement being such that by the application and removal of discs the weight applied by the shoe to the exerciser may be readily varied.

It will, of course, be understood that in the use of the device the sole of the exercisers foot, usually but not necessarily clad in socks or athletic shoes, is placed on the upper surface 19 of the health shoe with the heel bearing upon the heel surface 18 and with the rear edge of the heel bearing rearwardly against the projecting abutment bead 14. In this position the rear instep strap 12 may be applied to secure the rear end of the exercising shoe to the exercisers foot. The forward toe strap 17 is passed upwardly over the exercisers foot closely adjacent the toes.

Should weight in addition to the weight of the cementitious material be desired, the bar 40 may be passed through tube 26 and additional weights 41 may be affixed on the ends of the bars as indicated in FIG. 5. By the application of the shoe and the adjustment of weights thereof, the resistance of the pedal extremity to movement by the muscular activity of the exerciser may be adjusted and be such as to so far increase the effective Weight of 'the foot as to insure a strenuous effort on the part of the exerciser to move the foot. It will, of course, be understood that in the continued and periodic use of the exercising shoe of the present invention the muscles and tendons of the lower portion of the leg, and of the foot itself, will gradually increase in strength to compensate for the additional weight applied to the pedal extremity by the health shoe.

As hereinbefore referred to, it will be understood that the configuration, structural details and general design of the health shoe are not critical insofar as the present inventive concept is concerned. Therefore, it will be understood that in the practice of the invention numerous changes, modifications, and full use of equivalents may be resorted to Without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. An exercising shoe comprising:

(a) a unitary exterior plastic casing having a hollow interior, said casing being generally shaped in external configuration to conform to the sole of a foot and defining a hollow tube transversely extending through said casing; and

(b) an integral solidified dense material throughout said hollow interior of said casing, said dense material engaging the inner walls of said casing and conforming generally to the shape of said casing.:

2. An exercising shoe comprising:

(a) a unitary exterior plastic casing having a hollow interior, said casing being generally shaped in external configuration to conform to the sole of a foot; and,

(b) an integral solidified dense material throughout said hollow interior of said casing, said dense material engaging the inner walls of said casing and conforming generally to the Shape of said casing.

3. An exercising shoe comprising:

(a) a yieldable unitary exterior plastic casing having a hollow interior, said casing being generally shaped to fit the sole of a foot;

(b) a pair of opposing front strap guides disposed along opposite forward sides of said casing -and spaced outwardly therefrom;

(c) a pair of opposing rear strap guides disposed along opposite rearward sides of said casing and spaced outwardly therefrom;

(d) a plurality 'of removable straps extending through said front and rear strap guides and passing under said casing to secure said exercising shoe to the foot of an exerciser, at least one of said straps passing through a recessed area formed in said plastic casing; and,

(e) an integral solidified dense material throughout said hollow interior of said casing, said dense material engaging the inner Walls of said casing and conforming generally to the shape of said casing and said dense material including Weighting metallic particles uniformly dispersed throughout said dense material.

4. An exercising shoe comprising:

(a) a unitary thin exterior plastic casing having a top area, a bottom area and a hollow form determining interior defining a hollow tube transversely extending through said casing, said casing being generally shaped in external configuration to conform to the sole of a foot, said casing further defining a filling aperture communicating with the hollow interior of said casing;

(b) a plug for closing said filling aperture;

(c) means for retaining said plug in said aperture; and,

(d) an integral solidified dense material throughout the hollow interior of said casing, said dense material engaging the inner Walls of said casing and conforming generally to the shape of said casing.

5. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 4 wherein said solidified dense material includes concrete and 4a dense metal uniformly distributed throughout said concrete.

6. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 5 wherein said plug protrudes through said filling aperture, terminates Within the interior of said hollow casing, and includes a peripheral surface :adjacent its outer end for engaging the peripheral edge of said filling aperture', and said dense material engages a portion of said plug within said casing thereby preventing the ready removal of said plug.

7. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 6 wherein said filling aperture is generally circular and said plug is complementarily cylindrical; and said means for retaining said plug in said aperture comprises an anchoring cross bar extending from the innermost portion of said plug and engaging said dense material thereby preventing the ready removal of said plug.

8. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 7 including:

(a) a pair of opposing front strap guides disposed along opposite forward sides of said casing and spaced outwardly therefrom;

(b) a pair of opposing rear strap guides disposed along opposite rearward sides of said casing and spaced outwardly therefrom; and,

(c) a plurality of removable straps extending through said front and rear strap guides and passing under said casing to secure said exercising shoe to the foot of an exerciser, at least one of said straps passing through a recessed area formed in said plastic casing.

9. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 8 wherein said plastic casing includes a substantially smooth arcuate rear surface constituting the rearmost portion of said exercising shoe.

10. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 4 wherein said plastic casing includes:

(a) a substantially smooth continuous top surface Vthroughout a majority of the top area; and,

(b) a substantially continuous bottom surface throughout a majority of the bottom area.

11. An exercising shoe as recited in claim 4 wherein said plastic casing includes:

(a) Ia substantially smooth continuous top surface through the entire top area, said top surface being formed from a yieldable cushioning material; and,

(d) a substantially smooth continuous bottom surface throughout the entire bottom area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 193 S-Venables 272-57 3/ 1965 Newman.

L. J. BOVASSO, W. R. BROWNE,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. AN EXERCISING SHOE COMPRISING: (A) A UNITARY EXTERIOR PLASTIC CASING HAVING A HOLLOW INTERIOR, SAID CASING BEING GENERALLY SHAPED IN EXTERNAL CONFIGURATION TO CONFORM TO THE SOLE OF A FOOT AND DEFINING A HOLLOW TUBE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CASING; AND (B) AN INTEGRAL SOLIDIFIED DENSE MATERIAL THROUGHOUT SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR OF SAID CASING, SAID DENSE MATERIAL ENGAGING THE INNER WALLS OF SAID CASING AND CONFORMING GENERALLY TO THE SHAPE OF SAID CASING. 